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MoveU blogger: The holidays are here! How I’m (healthily) indulging this year

MoveU blogger Talia Main, second from left, enjoying the holiday season with friends (photo provided by TM)

27/11/2018

Talia Main

Ahh, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! There’s something so magical about the holiday season. I don’t know if it’s all the twinkly lights or that people seem to be just a bit nicer to each other. Either way, it’s definitely my favorite time of the year! I also cannot wait for the break, because school has been kicking my butt this semester. But luckily, my exam schedule was kind to me this year and I get a whole three weeks’ vacation! Plus, I get to hop on a plane back to the warmth of California and escape Toronto’s miserable weather! Can you tell I’m excited?!

What other time of the year do you get free license to eat handfuls of peppermint bark, slabs of fudge and icing coated shortbread cookies (in the shape of Santa, no less!)? I have an insatiable sweet tooth, so all these decadent treats are very hard to resist. I don’t know if it’s the glow of the lights that blinds me or the drone of the Christmas music that drowns out my sense of self control, (it could very well be the eggnog) but my goodness, I seem to lose all ability to restrain myself in the presence of holiday treats. Not to mention that I end up sprawled on the couch for most of the time, forgetting I even intended to work out. Then of course, the New Year brings in the guilt and shame of the holiday weight and we all rush out to the gym for all of three days before sliding back into our old routines. But this year will be different. This year, I have a plan.

The easier thing would be to just deny myself any kind of treat to prevent myself from eating too much, but I’m not a masochist, so I’m taking a different approach. I do that thing where I try all the different treats, even if there’s one I’m almost certain I won’t like, just because it might surprise me. I’m optimistic, what can I say? But this year, I’m not doing that. There is nothing wrong with indulging in my favorite holiday goodies, but I don’t need to overdo it and eat things just for the sake of eating. I think being mindful about which foods I am choosing will help me enjoy them more and take away the guilt of overeating.

I’m also going to try and exercise this break. But I’m not going to put pressure on myself to work out every single day. Instead, I’m going to be realistic and make an effort to do something active at least three or four times a week, even if it is just a long walk with my dog or a quick 10-minute workout. It’s absolutely better than nothing and will (hopefully) counteract some of the shortbread heading straight for my hips.

I fully intend to treat myself this holiday season, just a bit more healthily. Wish me luck!